Popes John Paul II, John XXIII to be made saints before the end of the year

Updated
Sat Jul 06 05:37:34 EST 2013

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Pope John Paul II is expected to be made a saint after two miracles were "confirmed".

Tony Gentile: Reuters

Pope Francis has given the go-ahead for his late predecessor John Paul II to be made saint by the end of the year.

In an historic day for the Vatican, the Pope has also granted a rare exception for John XXIII, who led from 1958 to 1963, to be canonised at the same time.

Polish-born John Paul II led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope Francis gave his widely-expected formal approval to a second miracle attributed to John Paul II at a meeting with Cardinal Angelo Amato, head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The Vatican says the supposed miracle occurred to a woman in Costa Rica, following media reports that she had been cured of a serious brain condition by praying for the late pope's intercession on the same day that he was beatified in 2011.

The long road to sainthood normally requires two "confirmed" miracles, the first of which is necessary for beatification, a hurdle the Polish pope cleared just six months after his death in 2005.

That was the healing of a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, whose recovery from Parkinson's disease after praying for the late John Paul II's "intercession" apparently had no medical explanation.

John Paul II was hugely popular among Catholics through his 27-year papacy, and helped topple Communism although he alienated many with his conservative views and was blamed for hushing up multiple scandals over paedophile priests.

At his funeral in 2005, crowds of mourners cried "Santo Subito!" - which roughly translates as "Sainthood Now!" - prompting the Vatican to speed up the path to sainthood, which normally begins five years after the death of the person in question.

"I think it's marvellous news that will bring joy to all Christians," Jesus Manuel, a Mexican monk, said in St Peter's Square after learning the news.

Dania, a Mexican tourist, said of John Paul II: "He went everywhere in the world and wherever he went he helped people. I think it's really good he's being canonised."

John XXIII to be canonised

In the case of John XXIII, Pope Francis "approved the favourable votes" from the Congregation for the canonisation even though no second miracle has been found, in a break with the usual procedure.

The announcement on John XXIII was greeted with bells ringing out in a parish church in the village of Sotto Il Monte in northern Italy where he came from.

Nicknamed "The Good Pope", John XXIII reigned from 1958 to 1963 and made his name by calling the historic Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) which overhauled and modernised the Catholic Church's rituals and doctrines.

He is often compared to Pope Francis for his pastoral attitude and charisma.

Asked about the exemption made by Pope Francis, Mr Lombardi said this was "a very specific case".

"Everyone knows the virtues and the personality of pope (Angelo) Roncalli, there is no reason to explain the reasons for his sanctity," he said.

A consistory, a meeting of cardinals, will now be held to determine the exact date for the canonisations.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi says they would take place "before the end of the year".